Hey Uncle Jim, its your nephew Kevin. I went to see
Weezer in concert on Friday and wanted to email you a review of it all. The
night started with an opening band that I didn't really like called the
start...my friend bought their CD and the people around us made fun of them so I
don't think I was the only one not to like them. The next opening act was cold,
who I do really like. They started playing their hit song "Bleed" when
suddenly the lead singer said F*** you and walked off the stage. We later found
out that someone in the floor seats threw something that hit him in the head.
Finally around 9:30, Weezer came on. I thought they rocked! Everyone around us
was really into it and everyone sang along. I love the energy they put into
everything. The only downside was the lack of pyrotechnics but we realized later
that they were inside an arena and that made it hard to use fire. The set was
great and the whole show was a ton of fun! They walked off around 10:30 but came
back on in about five minutes and did two songs, "Buddy Holly" and
"Surf Wax America". I loved the whole show and they didn't disappoint
in playing all my favorite songs of theirs. They played the new songs "Hash
Pipe" and "Islands in the Sun" and their old hits "Buddy
Holly", "Surf Wax America", "Undone the Sweater Song",
and my favorite "In the Garage". Overall I give the show a 10 out of
10.

-Kevin

(Kevin, Thanks for the review. I am
currently listening to the new Weezer record, and can definitely say that
Islands in the Sun is a song that easily outdoes all of the breezy, popular
Sugar Ray and Third Eye Blind hits. I always thought that Undone was a
great song, although I never understood everyone's fascination with the Buddy
Holly song. And, what's with this Hash Pipe? I am going to need to
have a talk with your Dad.

Anyway,
it's better than seeing n*sync.)

B- ?!? (for Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, in the
grading examples on the Home Page.) Nirvana and Pearl Jam's greatest hits combined
don't compare to this album. I have to agree 100% with the rest though. Where
would U2's Joshua Tree stand? Any word on how the shows at the United
Center went?

I know that Tool probably gets overlooked on your page.
But, I'm curious as to your thoughts on their contribution to music today.
With grunge all but gone, metal in a dismal state, and a poor offering from
the hard alternative bands--Tool is remaining unique and fresh. I see them
elevating from Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, and dare I say Ministry. Not to
mention that they sold out the Riv in about 5 minutes.

I think you and Steve should take the next step. Apply for a F.C.C. license and give this city a real radio station. Your library has to be
double what most are playing currently.

Bryan (never Outshined)

(Bryan, I
have to stand by the B-, but that could be a result of my lack of enthusiasm
for metal-influenced music in general. I love bands that bring the best
of metal to indie, such as Nirvana did in updating the Pixies and Minutemen,
or to dance music, the way Ministry did in updating New Order.
Soundgarden brought some great indie influences to metal music, but it is
still too metal for my taste. Also, Badmotorfinger could not
sustain its strong start throughout the record. However, it was real
good to hear Rusty Cage and Outshined again. Thanks for
reminding me!

As for Joshua
Tree, I gave it an A. The guitar intro on Where the Streets Have
No Name is one of those signature riffs that always brings a thrill.
The songwriting is very consistent throughout the record and there are few
bands that flat out play as well together. Certainly, it is a classic
record, and many will see it as the pinnacle of U2's career. I know I am
in the minority here, but I believe that the followup was even better. Rattle
and Hum may have been a bit pretentious, but the combination of fierce
live performances and studio collaborations with other musicians is
terrific. All I Want is You is a beautiful, heartbreaking finale
to the record, and essentially a goodbye to that phase of U2's music. See, you ask me about one record, and I can't
help writing about another one!

We will get to the Tool record shortly. They certainly are one of the better
and more legitimate of what little is left of the hard alternative bands. I've
previously found them to be somewhat below the level of Ministry or Nine Inch
Nails, but they at least aspire to that level of greatness, rather than being
satisfied with their commercial success.

As for
the FCC license, well, it would not take much to top the playlists of every
commercial radio station I know of. I'll get Steve to start the
paperwork! (You know he'll get right on it.)

Keep
reading, and writing.

Thanks,
Jim)

Hey Steve,

The site is pretty cool, very diverse group of artists. Have
to disagree with your friend's review of Dave Matthews though. I did tell you
I didn't like the album but when he says,

"even great
musicians (notably absent here)"

I had to write back. As a drummer, I must say that Carter
Beauford is one of the best drummers around now. Other than that he was pretty
on. Take care. Keep in touch.

Neil

(Jim replies - While I'm far from a Dave
Matthews expert and I have high standards for drummers, I would agree that
drumming is not a problem on that record. My comment there may have been the equivalent of "piling on.")

Just thought of a suggestion. Why not do a 'retro-review'. Rather than
waiting for new, cutting-edge freebies to review, why not review some of your
old favorites. You refer to a number of albums in your examples of your ratings,
but no review to see why. I don't have most of the ones you refer to, so now I'm
curious. Plus, I figured you have plenty of time on your hands, so it might give
you something a little different to fill your time.

Or not.

John

(John, Another fine idea by way of Tinley
Park! Who says we don't listen to our readers? See the review of
Exile on Main Street on the New Retro Reviews page. -jb-)

First off, I must admit I like the new format of your web
site- you're getting good at this. Second, it just so happens that in the last
month I purchased the new Radiohead, U2 and PJ Harvey cds- ironic. I am proud to
say that I am in 99% agreement with the reviews (true, Radiohead's "Kid
A" is not as good as "OK Computer" but should have rated an A-)..

Pete

(Pete, Welcome to Chicago; always good to
have you weigh in. At the time of the Radiohead review, I was torn between
B+ and A-. In the time since, I believe that the B+ was the right
grade. Splitting hairs a bit, yes, but the songs just are not up to the
other fine qualities of the record. -jb-)

Just read your first of the year offering. You're right, I have nothing else to do besides fret over Purdue's
disappointment in the Rose
Bowl. But, hey, at least it wasn't Northwestern! Anyway, I
really liked Steve's review on the Waco Brothers (no
pardon needed for the great opening line, Steve!). I
think I just might go out and buy me a new CD. But, being a Waco novice, I'll
follow Steve's advice and start with Cowboy in Flames. Then again, maybe
if I start with the lesser album, I can expect improvement with my second
purchase?

John

P.S. Just can't resist those Sting zingers, can you Jim? I had to laugh.

(John, Nothing like some more Big Ten
disasters to kill off another year, huh? Actually, the advice on starting
with Cowboy in Flames was mine (I am the editor after all!) Steve told me that
he thinks the new one may be more accessible for novices - I stick with my
advice. -jb-)

Jim,

Any thoughts on Rap? My son who is in eighth grade thinks he likes it. I have
allowed him to buy some of the CDs (even though they may have parental
advisory). I am trying to keep up with it and him, but boy I just don't get it!
It all sounds the same (a bunch of noise and unrecognizable lyrics, except for
the swear words). What the hell is a "slim shady" anyway? Usually each
CD has about one catchy song on it and the rest of the songs suck. Can you
recommend any decent ones?

Gene

(Gene, Rap is tough for me. I was a pretty big fan
of eighties rap music, especially Public Enemy (very political and great
production), Run DMC (fun), Beastie Boys, and NWA (the group that really started
the heavy cussin'). But today, for the most part, I find rap very boring
musically with lyrics that are only after shock value. There are artists, such
as Common, who try to emphasize the positive from a lyrical perspective, but the
music is still not my style.

But, of course, today's popular rappers, such as
Eminem (Slim Shady) are not targeting you and me. They are after your son and
other 13 -17 year old males. I hope they survive this, and go on to listen to
really good music. Although, I have to admit that Eminem's Stan is
a pretty effective song, and he and Kid Rock are clever lyricists. -jb-)

No question Chuck Berry. Elvis, you cannot deny his influence, maybe more
from

a popularity point of view than musically. Little
Richard from a sound andstyle. Of course Bob Dylan, the
Beatles, and The Rolling Stones belong. TheWho, yes I am
biased, but for good reason. They took a little power chord anda
touch of feedback (in the mid '60s) and turned it into a sound that gavebirth
to punk, heavy metal, and grunge. Led Zeppelin inspired almost everyband
I did not like in the '70s and '80s, but they were an inspiration. TheClash
over the Ramones or Sex Pistols, they raised the quality and power ofpunk.
Nirvana, thank you, helped rid us of the bands Led Zeppelin inspired.

James Brown and The Velvet Underground were not included. I believe they were

powerful and unique in their own way. But their sound was more
their own andnot so much a direct influence on others.
This, of course, could be argued.But, I see a lot more of
Little Richard's influence in Rock and Roll, eventoday,
than James Brown's sound.

Steve

(Steve, We agree on 11 of 20, which is not
bad for us. Taking some of the directly comparable ones, I might give you
Springsteen over Neil Young (how could I have forgotten the Boss?!?) and Elvis
Presley over Johnny Cash (I was probably just being ornery).
However, not only is James Brown clearly a better and more substantive artist
than Little Richard, his influence is certainly greater, if you include 1970s
funk (e.g., Sly Stone) and 1990s rap in your definition of rock and roll - I
do! As the two consistently best "popular" bands of the 1990s, I
believe that REM's catalog holds up better than U2's. Patti Smith over
Aretha Franklin is due to the larger legacy of artists inspired by Patti (Liz
Phair, Hole, Throwing Muses, Beth Orton, etc.) A similar argument
supports Bob Marley over Stevie Wonder, although I might drop Bob Mould/Husker
Du to accommodate Stevie Wonder. Buddy Holly was on his way to writing
Broadway musicals (he wanted to be a "serious" artist) by the time he
died - some great songs, but I can't believe that he would have ever written
another great rock song. Velvet Underground versus Allman Brothers is a
tough one. I probably like the Allmans better than VU, but I like the
bands inspired by Velvet Underground more than those inspired by the Allmans.
Anyway, that leaves us with the Ramones versus Led Zeppelin. The Ramones
were a better and more enjoyable band, and inspired better music than Zeppelin.)

Jim,

"Well, I rapped upon a house with the U.S. flag upon display. I said
"could

you help me out I got some friends down the
way" The man says, "Get out ofhere I'll tear
you limb from limb" I said, "you know they refused Jesus too"He said, "you're not him"

Bob Dylan's 115th Dream from the album Bringing It All
Back Home (1965)

You might want to pick up a CD off the net "Middle Aged Guy With a
Guitar", Josh Kadish a lawyer out in Portland OR, beezer@teleport.com

Tim Kimball

(Tim, as is typical with Dylan lyrics, this was
too long and convoluted to fit into the marquee on the home page. Fine
lyric, though. I'll look for the other CD.)

Jim,

It may be a left-handed compliment to say, "If the right disc were as
strong as the left disc, Fragile would be an absolutely
great offering from Trent Reznor." But I have been
waiting quite a while for this type of album from Nine
Inch Nails. I'd accept the compliment.

The left disc, although it starts out slow, is truly inspired.
"Wretched" is outstanding and what I have been
waiting for from NIN since The Pretty Hate Machine.
"We're In This Together" has a lovely sentiment and works well.
"The Fragile" is great! You
can hear the shackles on the mind as Reznor tries to save her from where he

"Starf*%#@!, Inc. is Carly Simon in need of an exorcism.
"The Big Come Down"is excellent and better
suited for the left disc. And "Underneath It All'basically
ends the right disc in similar theme to the ending of the left.

I would not ordinarily give an "A" rating to a double-disc album
that is a bit

uneven and thin in songs for two discs. But
The Fragile has more than enoughgood music for one and
enough great music for one artistically inspiring disc.Grade:
A

Steve

(Steve, So I guessed you liked it,
huh? Be careful, Trent Reznor's head is likely an awfully scary
place. He's probably left-handed, like you - among many of my other
favorite people!)

Jim,

In the '70s, I was growing up to the music of The Who and Gordon Lightfoot
and

many things in between. In the '90s, I am listening to Nine Inch Nails and
Dave Alvin. And many things in between.Dave
Alvin's "Blackjack David" reminds me a little bit of the good ol'Lightfoot. Jim, you mentioned John Prine's name in the review -
if you like him, youwill like "Blackjack
David." I was a little surprised to think you liked JohnPrine
at all. All these years, Tom and I have enjoyed his music. Where wereyou?Tom and I have also enjoyed the mellow sounds of Mr. Lightfoot.
And despitethe Prine-like "1968," many others,
including: "Blackjack David," "EveningBlues,"
"Abilene," and to a lesser extent - "Tall Trees" are similar
in styleto the Canadian Troubadour. And on "Mary
Brown," he almost is GordonLightfoot. This is a
good thing. Add to that, "New Highway," "CaliforniaSnow,"
and "Laurel Lynn" and you have a solid album. A-

Ironically James, although "From A Kitchen Table " may be a song
strong on lyrics, it may be short on execution. I will
give it more time. Often, thesong that grabs you last is
the one you hang on to the longest. We shall hear.

I haven't listened enough to the Nine Inch Nails new CD(s) to critique it,
but
I do like it. Although, the slow "fillers," especially on the second
disc,
don't do much for me. Chemical Brother's
"Surrender," not
bad. And the Clash have a live album of shows mostly from 1978 and 1982.Actually, okay. They are pretty faithful to the recordings, but
themusicianship is better than I expected. Some decent
guitar work. I alsobought Pete Townshend's live album
(charity is a good thing) but I haven'tlistened to it
yet.

Steve

(Steve,
Let me know when you have a grade for the NIN record. I just bought the Clash
record, but have not listened yet. The Who reunion concert at House of Blues got pretty
mixed reviews. I think the Stones have pretty much ruined things for old
60s bands still playing music.

It is
interesting that even when we agree on the value of a record like Blackjack
David, we take very different routes to the same basic destination. I
believe that your review bears out my contention that John Prine fans will find
much to like in the Alvin record. As you correctly note, I am not a huge
Prine fan. Thanks to you and Tom, I like many of his songs very much, but
I don't connect with his music as well as I did with Blackjack David.
As for Gordon Lightfoot, well, the only connection I hear there is the vocal
similarity - and vocals have traditionally been Dave Alvin's Achilles
heel. While I have not heard a Gordon song in many years, my previous
recollection is that I wasn't missing much. Maybe I need to give him
another chance, but I've not heard one of his songs that I would put above 25
Dave Alvin songs I could name (Blasters included))

Jim,

Experienced the Flaming Lips for the first time on HBO's Reverb last night.

I was impressed not only with the music, but the absolute
conviction whichwith the group played it live. After the
'they're only humans, with wivesand children' lyric from
"Race for the Prize", singer Wayne Coyne unleashedall
his righteous anger on the gong behind him throughout the instrumentalpiece
of the song. Then he really put himself into "The Spark that Bled",followed by a few others. Hopefully, you can catch a repeat of
the show yetthis week. I would love to see them live, but
for now, I'll have to get byon the CD, which I just
ordered from CDnow.

Best Regards,

Frank Smetana

(Frank, believe it or not, I don't get HBO.
Too cheap to pay for the movie channels, but not too cheap to pay for the cable
modem. Go figure. My brother, John and my friend Steve and I saw the
Flaming Lips on the second stage of Lollapalooza about 5 or 6 years ago.
As you observed on the HBO show, they were an excellent live experience.
They were able to reproduce the creativity of their studio records. I
think you nailed the reason with your observation that they bring a great deal
of convection to their music. It comes through clearly.)

» (From Rose of the Poster Children re: my review of their album)

Thanks Jim. But I wonder about the "plenty of commercial reasons to
quit"

line in the review. I wonder what the reasons
were? We're probably one ofthe only bands that you've
reviewed who actually makes a living off of ourmusic and
is able to support themselves on tour, without a major labelbacking
us up.

Maybe we can't afford to pay the money to get ourselves played on the

radio,
but that hasn't seemed to hold us back, ever.

Anyway, thanks for the review - you have a neato page!

-rose

(Rose,
As I noted, I am not in the music business, so I may have tended to equate your
lack of radio airplay with insufficient commercial success. I am thrilled
to hear that the band has been able to make a full-time living off your music;
that means I will get to hear more of it! Thanks for the nice note!)

Jim,

I cited Tom Petty regarding his "coherent" lyrics, not to praise
Tom Petty,

but because you originally referred to him in
comparison to John Strohm.Vestavia has a pop
sensibility which requires lyrics the listener can relateto
at one level (intelligent, complex, simple-minded) or another. Vestaviasounds
okay, but not good enough to overlook the lack of lyrical coherency.

If you can give an A+ to a great sounding album, then what would you give a
great sounding album with intelligent, inspirational, or
insightful lyrics?Great Rock and Roll can be fun
and nonsensical such as the Flaming Lips orthe B52s.
However, I would not rate their best music with the greatest Rockand
Roll of all time. And I would not rate John Strohm's music, which isnot
nearly as interesting or innovative, in the same category as the FlamingLips
or the B52s.

Now, on to another album.

- Steve

P.S. Did you see Channel 5 News after the ballgame the other night in talking about Wilt Chamberlain's death. Even in the highlights
to show how good he was, they showed Bill Russell twice
blocking his shots. Even in his death, Russell will haunt
him.

(Steve, In the spirit of moving on, I will
graciously grant you the last word on Vestavia. I give plenty of A+
grades, and I can clearly distinguish between Exile on Main Street and Vestavia.
That's like asking Gene Siskel to distinguish between The Godfather, and the
latest 4 star movie he reviewed. Certainly, he could do so. Well,
maybe not anymore, but you get my point.

Sorry, you cannot bait me into a good
Chamberlain/Russell argument. I agree with you that Wilt will forever be
haunted by Russell and the Celtics. I do appreciate the stunning
individual achievements that Wilt was able to accomplish in his career, without
diminishing the stunning team success of Russell. That is why
Michael Jordan is clearly the best player ever, because he combined stunning
individual achievement with sustained team success.

Congratulations on the new job.)

»

Hey Jim-What do you
think of the new Gomez CD - Liquid Skin? To me they sound like a
contemporary Grateful Dead. Let me know.

By the way, don't you think Spin should have included STP's
Purple on the 90 list?

This is Casey now. I don't know much about Gomez but I do
know I like their one song "Revolutionary Kind". We
would be interested to hear what you have to say.

Bye -

Pete & Casey

P.S. You and Matt held an auction of 45s? I do
believe I had a Jackson Five record that sold and I never saw the profits. (I
invite the rest of the family to write in about their missing 45s. Come
on Mag, I know you had some missing Bobby Sherman records!)

(Wow, where do I start? I have not heard of
Gomez, and will seek it out. I should warn you that I am not a Grateful
Dead fan - maybe I should get my cousins Paul or Mark to do a review. I'll
try to be fair.

By "STP", I fear you mean Stone Temple
Pilots. Every musical breakthrough has its downside. My view is that STP
was the extreme downside of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the grunge genre. I
thankfully only own one STP record, Core, and even the used record store
would not give me any money for it. Apparently, so many people were trying
to sell it; well, you get the point. I can't go with you on that one.

Now, on to my wonderful sister; I can't believe that
you are insinuating that Matt and I withheld anything other than a standard fee
for our services. Further, the Jackson Five and Bobby Sherman were played
so often in our house that I am sure the records were almost totally worn away
by the time we sold them. Any residual value from the sale has surely been
compensated for through the valuable life experiences that Matt and I provided
to you. Okay, maybe we still owe you a couple bucks!

Love, Jim)

Sorry Jim.

Vestavia may sound like an "exotic" and weird place to live, but
the album

does not live up to the inspiration.

It does have a good sound with layers of guitars, and okay vocals. However,

unlike Tom Petty, who will write coherent lyrics, John Strohm
seems moreinterested in the sound than the meaning. I
appreciate the songwriter whostrives to come up with
lyrics of intelligence, of insight, of inspiration.That
does not mean I cannot enjoy the goofy inventiveness of, say, theFlaming
Lips. John Strohm is not as interesting as the Flaming Lips. He istrying
to be more "pop."

Vestavia has a definite "pop" sensibility. The melodies are
familiar,

though the guitar work is interesting. The album
starts out sounding great-- the lyrics, ineffectual.
"Drive-Thru" is the fourth and the only fullyconceived
song on the album.On "Ballad of Lobster Boy,"
I'm not sure if there is nothing wrong, it'sonly fair; or
if there's something wrong, it's in the air. But it is goodto
know, "There's a little lobster boy in everyone." Or is it good to
know?

On "Eva Braun," I'm sure we're are all hoping she, "Keep
hanging on."

Then comes the best sounding song on the
album, "For Awhile." "Free forawhile, 'til
your smile gets the better of me." It is a great hook, butStrohm
lets the listener get away with a series of cliches that add up tonothing.
Great psychedelic guitar work though.

After that, with the last four songs, Vestavia becomes a boring place to

visit.

John Strohm's "Vestavia" -- C+

Steve

(Steve,
Citing Tom Petty for his lyrics is
like citing Shaquille O'Neal for his free-throw shooting. Shaq is a great
player and Tom Petty has made plenty of fine music, but free throw shooting and
lyrics are not what come to mind when you mention their strengths. As you
and I have discussed, I do not think great lyrics are required for great rock
music; they are an added bonus when they are surrounded by good music and
musicianship. I do not think the lyrics on Vestavia detract
at all from the overall success of the album. I stand by my review and
opinion that the vast majority of rock fans would enjoy this record.)

» Jim,

Checked out the Chet-Bach results with a link from Chris. How do you like

your cable modem? My 56k connection isn't cutting it. Also
enjoyed your reviews. I own quite a bit of the 'classics' youmentioned,
but have not ventured into any 'new' music (still listening toXTC,
Clash, Richard Thomson, Bob Mould, John Hiatt).

Maybe the kids and I will set up a web site up after we sign with MediaOne.

Cheers,

Frank Smetana

P.S. Still remember the 45's that you and Matt 'auctioned' from the attic?

(Frank,
It is great to hear from you. I
had quite a bit of trouble in the first few weeks with the cable modem; they had
a hard time getting it to work consistently. However, it is now working
well, and is especially fast downloading and uploading data.
I sure like what you are still
listening to (other than XTC, what are they doing in there?) I am having
fun doing the site. By the way, I am sure those 45s are worth big
money these days. You saved them, didn't you?)

»

Hi Jim, say...nice web site!

Before I start, I must warn you its 4:00a.m., I
can't sleep, and your sister mentioned there was a comment on your site about
Radiohead's OK Computer (which happens to be one of my favorite CD's of the
90's). True the music and lyrics can be a little dark, or un-peppy, but
does this make it any less of an album?

As far as the latest from Flaming Lips, I beg
to differ Jim.. I sampled some of the Soft Bulletin CD and though the music
was interesting, the vocals sounded off key (my opinion of course and it is
now 4:10 a.m.). Some of my favorite tracks on OK Computer are Paranoid
Android, Subterranean Homesick Alien, Karma Police, and No Surprises. I
think this is some of the most original music to come out in a long time, but
definitely not for everyone (in fact my wife can't stand it). Strong
vocals by Thom Yorke, great bass lines, and bizarre techno sound effects help
make it a CD I can listen to again and again.

Anyway, I like your web site and by the way
great call on Liz Phair's (Guyville) CD, enjoyed it!

Your Colorado brother-in-law, Pete

(Hey,
Pete, it is great to hear from you. I did not mean to unfairly impugn OK
Computer. It is a fine record, I consider it an A-. I would add
Electioneering to your fine selection of tracks from that record. My comparison
to Flaming Lips was intended to praise both artists for taking artistic risks
and succeeding. Both records are difficult for the casual listener. The tones,
although wildly different, are both highly effective at what they are trying to
do. Regarding your comments about the vocals being off-key, Wayne Coyne can be
an acquired taste. His vocals are not about technical perfection, but how well
they communicate the atmosphere of the record. I think they accomplish that
well.)

»
Jim,

Wow! Lot's of stuff here -- so, not only do you have time to listen to
music, but you've got time to write about it too?! I certainly
did notknow you were a Ministry fan and I also learned a
bit of Steve Dahl trivia(are you serious about his
theremin "playing"?). But I figure most folksonly
e-mail you if they want to add their $.02. So here's mine!

Re: top 16 of the '90's, I'd drop those soundtracks (they're
just glorified K-Tel compilations!) and I'd add Los Lobos "Colossal
Head" and Mike Watt's"Ballhog or Tugboat".
Watt is formerly of the Minutemen and Firehose andthis
album features tons of guest musicians (Eddie Vedder, Evan Dando,Beastie
Boys, Frank Black, etc.) I've just bookmarked this site and I'llbe
checking back for you recommendations! By the way, are you a Tom Waitsfan
at all? I think I'm going to pick up his new one this week.

Take Care, Your cousin, Mark

(Good to hear from you
Mark! Mark is the drummer for a Milwaukee band, Porcine, so he is an
excellent music reference. Yes, Steve Dahl played the theremin for Brian
Wilson on his recent comeback mini-tour. I see your point on the
soundtracks, but both Dead Man Walking and Natural Born Killers
make my list because of their compilation of great music and how they
truly convey a sense of the movie. Los Lobos is a great band, but as for Colossal
Head, I did not like that nearly as much as Kiko. I am a huge
Minutemen fan, but my favorite Mike Watt record is Contemplating the Engine
Room; I think this is a more cohesive record, getting rid of the
showoff guest stars. Tom Waits is one of those guys who I respect more
than like. He's good and all, but I rarely listen to him. Keep the
tips coming.)

» Uncle Jim,

After reading your website, i was surprised at a
few things. First of all, you never mentioned any GOOD groups. (
Backstreet Boys, NSync, Britney Spears, etc.) Also, "Astro
Lounge," by Smash Mouth, got an undeserving B-. I think it deserves an A- or
possibly a low A. Otherwise, your website was quite interesting and informative.

Allison

(Thanks,
Allison. I may not be able to get to all of the "GOOD" groups
you mentioned.)

» Jim,

In regards to your "Assorted Musings", how does Lollapalooza
compare to "Chicagofest" of the early 80's. If memory serves, and usually
it doesn't, there were some pretty good bands scattered around Navy Pier cranking out some great blues and rock. (Special thanks to Jane Byrne for
ruining that too.)

Matt

(Matt, they compare very favorably! Chicagofest had many bands on
different stages for free. It was a great way to hear music that I
did not usually listen to - in my case, jazz, blues and country. The main
stage acts were usually quite lame - Chicago, Beach Boys (minus Brian Wilson, of
course), that type of thing. The side stages were where all of the action
was. Most were either local or lesser known bands. Taste of Chicago
replaced Chicagofest, and is a sorry substitute - too much food, too little
music!

Lollapalooza was expensive, but at its best,
it was a combination of good, though obscure bands, and bigger names in the
alternative rock genre. They made valiant attempts to include some of the
better rap acts of the time, in an effort to broaden the appeal of this urban
music form to white suburbanites. The unfortunate consequence of that
appears to be today's excess of lame, white rappers.)

»Jim,
I heard it through the grapevine Roger Ebert is looking to have your thumbs removed.

Speaking of movies. Summer of Sam. Saw it, had the same feeling about it you
had, but for a different reason. I thought John Leguizamo and Mira Sorvino were very good. I liked the portrayal
of the Italians and the neighborhood. The one's dancing and homosexual dalliances kind of lost me. If he had used the Son of Sam as a fear factor in
the news and conversation and skipped even bothering to show him, he could have devoted more time to the characters. Play up the heat factor better like in Do
The Right Thing. This would have been better as a movie simply about sex, drugs, and rock n' roll in the '70s and how it affected this Italian
neighborhood in the Bronx. As Sorvino asked Leguizamo about his sexcapades, "What does that have to do with Son of Sam." Spike Lee should have asked
himself that question when making the movie.

Wait a minute, you're not doing movie reviews. Oh well...

Steve

(Steve
is alluding to a conversation that he and I had about Summer of Sam, the
new Spike Lee movie. I generally agree with Steve's comments, but let's
not be too negative - this is a solid three star movie. The standard set
by Do the Right Thing is hard to live up to, but we should not hold that
against Spike Lee. This is a very good movie, especially from a sorry
Knicks fan.)

» Jim,

We love your web site, but we must disagree with your disparaging remarks
about the Police. Not only did their singles define the early 80's, Every Breath You Take was the first song I danced with my
wife-(Your Sister-in-Law!) Also, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic is a great dance song, comparable
to everything on Clash's London Calling.

We value your taste (considering I still have some of your old Yes LP's), but
please lay off Sting and the boys!

Chris and Sue

(Hey, no offense intended, but regarding the Police, I cannot yield. I WILL
admit that Every Breath You Take and Every Little Thing She Does is Magic are
two of their more tolerable songs, and I WILL admit that if I had to (and
fortunately, I don't), I would listen to the Police over any of Sting's solo
outings. You should be careful of mentioning the Police in the same breath
as the Clash, lest you be struck down by a higher power.

P.S. You can keep the Yes LPs!)

Jim,

I saw the Stones at the United Center earlier this year.
The concert is best described as "staged." Mick sure swiveled around a
lot, but it all felt rather contrived. Their focus on their "newer"
music was a little disappointing for us old yuppies.

Doug

(Doug,
you mean they really are still together?!? Did anybody pay money to see
them, or were they, like, playing after a Hawks game? Seriously, it pains
me to bash Charlie Watts and Keith Richards, but if they are going to keep
playing, stick with the best material - nothing after 1977, which is probably
even stretching it a few years)